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-   -   Hotel recommendations for Stresa,please (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/hotel-recommendations-for-stresa-please-767152/)

violetduck Feb 12th, 2009 08:05 AM

Hotel recommendations for Stresa,please
 
Hotel recommendations for Stresa
appreciated. It seems most do not have
a/c and we will be there early Sept and
think we may need it. Also, most of the
reviews I have read about the historic
center ones complain about noise. It would be great to be on the lake, but that may be too expensive. Thanks for
your thoughts and recommendations.

Therese Feb 12th, 2009 08:19 AM

I've got a really great recommendation for you for Stresa:

http://www.lalunanelporto.it/indexuk.html

I've stayed at La Luna nel Porto twice now, once for a meeting and once with my family (for two weeks). I specifically returned to Stresa with my family because I so enjoyed my first stay there.

The hotel is comprised of small apartments, and just about all of them have either small balconies or terraces (some of them pretty large---we ate many of our meals outside on ours). Incredible views over the lake, very convenient to the ferry, and out of the older center of town (where you're much more likely to hear late night revelers).

The property is new, so great A/C and the rooms are beautifully equipped and maintained. Family owned and run (the family also owns a real estate agency), and by the end of your stay you'll feel like their long-lost cousin.

violetduck Feb 14th, 2009 12:22 PM


therese-Thanks for the wonderful suggestion.
I tried to make reservations and find that for the
three nights we need they are not taking reservations
at this time. I will check back closer to time and hopefully still get them. In the meantime, any other
suggestions just in case we don't get to go there.
Many thanks.

Therese Feb 15th, 2009 07:58 AM

The more budget-minded properties in the central commercial area of Stresa tend to be a bit worn down. I've not stayed in any of them, but none of my colleagues who were booked in them for the meeting where I'd been booked the first time at La Luna nel Porto could recommend any of them whole-heartedly.

The grand properties like Regina Palace (where I ate a nice dinner at the meeting gala, better than these things tend to be) and Grand Hotel des Borromees sound like they're outside your budget. There's a hotel called Verbano on Isola dei Pescatori (aka Superiori) which looked interesting to me (when I ate another meeting dinner there, excellent) but I haven't stayed there nor know anybody personally who has. You have to get to the mainland by boat, so either ferry or motorboat (provided by the hotel) if the ferry's not available.

ira Feb 15th, 2009 10:37 AM

Hi VD,

Just a suggestion:

I had planned on staying in Stresa, but then discovered Orta San Giulio, on the next lake West.
http://www.ortasangiulio.com/

We will be staying at http://www.hotelbussolaorta.it/index_ing.html

Other places on my list were:
www.lacontradadeimonti.it/inglese/homeit.htm
http://www.hotelorta.it/
http://www.orta.net/olina/
http://www.orta.net/s.caterina/

((I))

You can check reviews at www.tripadvisor.com



StCirq Feb 15th, 2009 10:48 AM

It was quite a few years ago, but we had a nice stay at the Hotel Italie et Suisse, which was right across the street from the main boat dock. It was a very large room, inexpensive, and quiet, as it was on the back side of the building. The owners were exceedingly gracious, and the breakfast was enough to keep us fueled for an entire day!

I'd also check out Lake Orta - we discovered it during our stay and wished we'd known about it in advance.

Therese Feb 16th, 2009 07:19 AM

Orta San Giulio is indeed lovely, but very different from Stresa in that the lake (Orta) is relatively small and a bit of a dead end: you pretty much have to drive to get anywhere else. So if the goal is a very relaxing few days spent gazing at the lake and strolling the lovely environs, then Orta is great. Stresa's rail and ferry connections give it a different feel altogether (but still with fantastic views).

It really depends on what your interests are for this trip.

violetduck Feb 16th, 2009 08:28 AM

ira, thanks for the Lake Orta information. I am sure it is lovely, but would be too far for us and we are also traveling by train. We are leaving Geneva and going to Stresa, Lucca,Siena and on to Bologna and flying home from Milan. Stresa is our spot to relax and try to get past the jet lag. Had originally planned to go to Turin, but found Stresa a a couple of hours shorter train ride and should be more relaxing than a city. Hope to get to Orta one day.

St.Cirq-I will check out Italie and Suisse and also have been looking at Hotel Astoria. Do you know anything about it? Seems centrally located anyway.
Thanks for your help.

Therese-Checked Regina Palace and some rooms are
not unbelievably expensive considering what a luxurious place it is. However, we travel with our carryon only, look decent but not very fancy and they probably would not let us in the door.:) I am checking out other recommendations, Italie and Suisse and Hotel Astoria.
We will see. I have always so depended on Trip Advisor, but am feeling many of the reviews are not for real anymore. Maybe I am
paranoid!!!! Thanks again.

Therese Feb 16th, 2009 08:48 AM

In this instance I would take the Trip Advisor reviews with the usual grain of salt, but by and large the descriptions sound about right. I did look up the Italie and Suisse, and also looked at the hotel's web site, and the bult of the reviews at TA sound like they're on the mark.

I would contact the management at La Luna nel Porto again and make it quite clear that you'd like to go ahead and book as soon as they are willing to do so.

Therese Feb 16th, 2009 08:52 AM

Oh, and the Astoria.

The Astoria's located farther north on the lungolago (the street that runs parallel to the lake front) and is large, with a certain 1970s feel to the decor. Good reviews at TA, so if you can get a good rate that would probably work.

I wouldn't worry about not looking posh enough to stay at the Regina. Your money spends the same as everybody else's.

traveller1959 Feb 16th, 2009 09:24 AM

We stayed in Hotel Rigoli in Baveno. It is a 3-star-hotel direct on a private beach in a quiet neighbourhood. No road, no traffic. Very nice bar.

Baveno is very convenient to visit the isles.

However, it did not have a/c.

www.hotelrigoli.com

Therese Feb 16th, 2009 09:33 AM

Baveno's an excellent alternative to Stresa in this instance, as it's also served by the train (just one stop up from Stresa) and is also well-served by the ferries. Hotel Rigoli looks nice, and if the neighborhood is quiet the A/C is less of an issue, as you can keep the windows open (which I much prefer in any case) while you sleep.


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